Date: 2019-08-08

Article Link : BBC_pictures

British photographer Adrian Bradshaw arrived in Beijing in 1984, going on to spend three decades documenting China's changing culture.(go on to spend ··· doing )

Shanghai, 1985.jpg

In his new book, The Door Opened: 1980s China, Bradshaw shares scenes of everyday life in China, drawing from his archive of almost two million photos.

Here is a selection of images, with captions and description form the photographer.

The slogan 'Long Live Mao Zedong thought' is painted over, Beijing, 1985.jpg

Bradshaw says of the photo above: "The big red propaganda boards typically at main intersections were gradually replaced by advertising, often for oversees brands of electronics that not even available in the shops."

The idea was to build awareness for the time China would be rich enough to buy imported items.

Two tricycle riders enjoy the rare sight of a long-nosed foreigner, Shainghai, 1985.jpg

"The sight of foreigner was unusual at that time even in Shanghai, formerly the most cosmopolitan of Chinese cities."

A fashion show is seen at the Beijing Maxim's in 1985.jpg

"This was possibly the first fashion show in reform-era China. The looks on the faces of the audience are priceless."

Contruction begins on the Pudong waterfront, Shanghai, 1987.jpg

"It's amazing to me how derelict the other side of the river in Shanghai was. There wasn't even a bridge."

"Now, there are multiple bridges, tunnels, underground line and a skyline that competes with Manhattan."

A fairground, Shanghai, 1985.jpg

"Who knows, one of these children may have grown up to be a real astronaut. No-one imagined this could be possible at that time."

A young girl learns to walk while her grandmother watches with a smile, Chengdu, 1985.jpg

"The tenderness of this moment is all the more striking when one considers the presence of the granny who was born at a time when it was normal for women to be intentionally crippled with bound feet."

A portable music player attracts the attentions of a small crowd, Shanghai, 1985.jpg

"Consumer electronics were enormous status symbol in China and everywhere I went I would be asked how much my camera cost."

A street market, Hefei, 1986.jpg

"Street markets tended to be dominated by large quantities of the same produce and all prices were negotiable."

"This is where the new economic era really started, with farmer able to make extra money if they were more productive."

A man cools off in a canal, Beijing, 1985 .jpg

"Air conditioning was almost unheard of in most of China in the 1980s."

"So, with summer temperatures reaching 40C, people stayed out late and jumped in any convenient body of water."

Summary

1. go on to spend three decades documenting
2. captions : n标题、字幕、说明文字；vt给···加字幕，文字，标题
3. propaganda board : 宣传板
4. be replaced by
5. imported items : 进口产品
6. be adj to do : be rich enough to buy imported items
7. the sight of : 看见
8. cosmopolitan : adj 世界性的，全球的
9. reform-era : 改革时代
10. priceless : 无价的、极其贵重的、非常有趣的
11. tunnel : n隧道、地道
12. tenderness : 温和、亲切、柔软
13. granny : 奶奶、外婆
14. bound feet : 小脚
15. street market : 菜市场
16. negotiable : 可谈判的、可商量的
17. canal : 运河、沟渠、管道、食道、气管